Finland-based educator slams Norway’s school system and extended graduation celebrations

A prominent Finnish-Norwegian commentator has launched a scathing critique of Norway’s education system, arguing that moving the traditional russ graduation celebrations after the May 17 Constitution Day reflects a broader decline in academic standards and work ethic among students.

Sanna Sarromaa, a former teacher, historian, and frequent contributor to the journal Minerva, told Dagbladet that Norway’s prioritisation of leisure over education has reached a critical point. “The house is on fire, but does anyone care? No! We’re in Norway! We have oil—we don’t need to know how to read, write, or do math,” she said.

Her comments follow a recent shift in Norway’s school calendar, where the russ period—a weeks-long celebration for final-year high school students—was largely moved to after national exams to avoid disruptions. Sarromaa dismissed the adjustment as symptomatic of a deeper issue: “The fact that Norway even has a russ season [rather than a single day, as in Finland] says everything about this country’s culture. It’s all about free time and partying, not hard work or academic achievement.”

“Today’s youth are slack”

Citing Norway’s Ungdata youth survey, Sarromaa highlighted a “dramatic decline” in students dedicating leisure time to homework, arguing that academic effort is “simply not a priority.” She contrasted this with Finland, where exams were never cancelled during the pandemic—unlike Norway, where assessments were repeatedly scrapped “even when unnecessary.”

“In Finland, exams were only cancelled twice—during World War II. Because knowledge matters,” she said, accusing Norwegian schools of “extreme grade inflation.” She pointed to a doubling of top grades in recent years and a widening gap between exam results and teacher-assigned grades, where the latter are consistently higher. “A grade of 2 or 3 [on a 1–6 scale] means you know next to nothing in that subject. The bar has been lowered so everyone passes.”

Sarromaa linked the trend to Norway’s egalitarian education policy, which she summarised as: “Everyone should be included, but no one should excel.” She warned that universities now report students arriving with weaker foundational knowledge, ill-prepared for higher education. “They can’t—or won’t—read. That’s not their fault; it’s the system’s. No one has ever demanded anything of them.”

Call for radical change

The commentator proposed drastic measures, including banning all russ activities except for a single celebratory day, as in Finland. She also criticised Norway’s infrastructure failures—such as collapsing bridges and train delays—as symptoms of the same cultural complacency.

“Society is wealthy and relaxed, and so are the students. Is it any wonder things fall apart?” she asked. Referencing Norway’s declining PISA scores and a 2023 government-commissioned report, she noted that 41% of students lack the minimum competency needed for further education or work—a figure the report deemed “serious.”

“Do we need more russ time, or more knowledge and learning? The answer should be obvious,” Sarromaa said.

Sarromaa, who has a child participating in this year’s russ celebrations, has previously advocated for abolishing Norway’s monarchy and has been a vocal critic of what she describes as the country’s “low-expectation culture.”